9 Best Psychology Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 3 hours ago
- 7 min read
If you’re fascinated by how the human mind works, middle school is the perfect time to start exploring psychology. The best psychology programs for middle school students offer more than just an introduction to the subject; they provide early exposure to college-level academics, hands-on learning, and the experience of engaging with real researchers and mentors. These programs often simulate aspects of college life while teaching practical skills such as observation, data analysis, and critical thinking. Many also provide you with an understanding of how psychology connects to real-world fields like medicine, education, business, and technology, all without being an overly expensive option to explore at a young age.
For students serious about diving deeper into psychology, some of the most rewarding programs come with scholarships or full funding opportunities. These highly selective experiences combine academic rigor, valuable mentorship, and strong networking opportunities, often hosted by prestigious universities and research institutions known for their excellence in psychological sciences. To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of the best psychology programs for middle school students that balance accessibility with academic depth, ensuring a meaningful and inspiring early start in this fascinating field.
10 Best Psychology Programs for Middle School Students
Location: Online (Founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers)
Cost: Varies; need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: 8 weeks (rolling cohorts throughout the year)
Application Deadline: Varies across different cohorts
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8; open to motivated students globally interested in exploring academic research or writing.
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program pairs middle school students with Ph.D. mentors from universities such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton to explore academic subjects and develop a written project. Across eight weeks, you’ll learn to read and interpret academic literature, build research questions, and create outputs such as a high school-level research paper or case study. You’ll receive individualized feedback through eight mentor sessions and two writing-coach sessions, ensuring you master both analytical and writing fundamentals. Research topics range from gene editing to behavioral economics. The program’s rigorous selection process and personalized mentorship make it one of the most competitive and enriching academic writing experiences available for middle school students. Lumiere also offers a Junior Research and Publication Program for students who wish to publish their research in academic journals.
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
Program dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Fee: Varies
Financial assistance: Need-based financial aid is available
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous projects done by students have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact acceptance rate not published
Location: New York University, Johns Hopkins University, and University of Iowa (with expansion to Boston and Beijing)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Varies by city; typically runs during the summer months (June–August)
Application Deadline: Usually opens in early spring; exact dates announced on program website
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students interested in neuroscience and biomedical sciences
This free educational initiative introduces students to the fundamentals of neuroscience, neuroanatomy, and cognitive psychology through structured workshops and guided projects. You’ll explore the human brain and nervous system, learning about neural communication, memory, and sensory processing. Students engage in interactive lab modules and collaborative research activities led by undergraduate mentors and university researchers. The program emphasizes accessibility and inclusion, aiming to make neuroscience education available to curious learners from diverse backgrounds. It also fosters community connections through its partnerships with NYU, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Iowa, giving students early exposure to academic and research environments.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not applicable; outreach program coordinated with local schools
Location: Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Conducted annually during the summer term; individual sessions last approximately one hour
Application Deadline: Not applicable (students participate through partnered middle schools in the Palo Alto and East Palo Alto districts)
Eligibility: Open to 7th-grade students from participating public schools in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, and Menlo Park
This long-running outreach initiative connects Stanford Neurosciences PhD students with 7th graders for a hands-on exploration of the brain. Participants get to see and handle real human and animal brains while learning about brain anatomy, neural communication, and behavioral functions. Each session includes interactive demonstrations and Q&A discussions that spark scientific curiosity and critical thinking. You are encouraged to ask creative questions, which are later featured on Stanford’s “Ask A Neuroscientist” blog. The program gives middle schoolers a rare opportunity to experience authentic science engagement in a real research context, promoting early interest in neuroscience and psychology.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX (online)
Cost: $1,795; need-based scholarships available
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round; examples include November 9–December 7, December 21–January 4, January 4–February 1
Application Deadline: Corresponding cohort deadlines include November 2, December 14, December 28
Eligibility: Ages 13+ (middle school and up)
This mentor-supported online course introduces core areas of psychology (cognitive, health, human factors, and industrial–organizational) with an emphasis on research methods and statistics. You’ll analyze how psychological science frames real-world issues, evaluate claims using empirical evidence, and explore applied domains such as workplace behavior and decision-making. The capstone asks you to produce a 3-minute “news” video that identifies a problem, proposes a solution informed by psychological concepts, and clearly communicates the findings. Mentors provide guidance on assignments, feedback on your capstone, and study planning to keep you on track. You can expect 20–30 hours of total instruction and coursework delivered asynchronously, supported by multimedia modules and structured checkpoints.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort of approximately 60–80 students
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: $75; full scholarships available
Program Dates: June 23–July 30
Application Deadline: Early spring; typically closes in March
Eligibility: Open to motivated middle school students (Grades 6–9) enrolled in public or parochial schools in New Haven, CT
This six-week academic enrichment program, led by Yale undergraduates, offers middle schoolers a rigorous introduction to the humanities and social sciences. You’ll explore topics through interactive seminars, group projects, and investigative coursework designed to strengthen critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills. Classes emphasize understanding human behavior and social systems, concepts central to psychology and related disciplines. Afternoon electives and collaborative activities help you build curiosity, confidence, and community while developing a sense of intellectual independence. The program’s focus on equity ensures access for students from diverse backgrounds, making it one of the most impactful middle school enrichment opportunities in the U.S.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; moderately selective
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (online)
Cost: Not listed on the catalog; financial aid available through Summer at Hopkins
Program Dates: June 23–July 4, July 7–July 18, or July 21–August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling; applications typically close in May
Eligibility: Open to pre-college students (advanced middle schoolers and high school students); no prerequisites required
This two-week online course explores the science of psychological profiling as used in forensic investigations. You will study real clinical cases of serial offenders, spree killers, and terrorists to understand how psychologists assist law enforcement through behavioral analysis. You’ll learn about profiling accuracy, bias, and ethics while developing foundational knowledge in clinical psychology, criminology, and human behavior. The course combines asynchronous lectures with optional live discussions and office hours, offering flexibility while maintaining academic rigor. You will build research-based reasoning and critical evaluation skills that mirror college-level psychological inquiry.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; moderately selective
Location: Online
Cost: Not specified; aid available via Summer at Hopkins
Program Dates: June 23–July 4, July 7–18, or July 21–August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling (typically closes in May)
Eligibility: Open to pre-college students (advanced middle schoolers and high schoolers); no prerequisites required
This 2-week online course introduces behavioral neuroscience, exploring how the brain shapes cognition, behavior, and emotion. Through real-world examples like language recovery after a stroke or the neural chemistry of social bonding, you will investigate how neural circuits influence decision-making and personality. The course blends psychology and biology to help you understand the mind as an “organic computer.” Readings, multimedia modules, and optional live sessions reinforce analytical and critical thinking skills.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; moderately selective
Location: Online
Cost: Not specified; aid available via Summer at Hopkins
Program Dates: July 21–August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to pre-college students; no prerequisites
This asynchronous two-week course provides an introduction to abnormal psychology and mental health disorders. You will explore the DSM categories, theoretical causes, and evidence-based treatment methods for conditions such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. It’s a college-style exploration of mental health that helps young learners understand both the science and ethics of diagnosis and therapy. Assignments emphasize applied psychology and empathy-based analysis.
One more option—The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure! To learn more, you can reach out to our Director, Dhruva, at dhruva.bhat@lumiere.education, or go to our website.
Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the upcoming cohorts + deadlines, you can refer to this page!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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